Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube, Zimpapers Sports Hub
A wave of impressive performances by Zimbabwean athletes abroad has injected new hope into the country’s quest for more qualifiers to this year’s World Athletics Championships, set for September in Tokyo, Japan.
Marathon runners Tendai Zimuto and national record holder Isaac Mpofu, 200m duo Makanakaishe Charamba and Tapiwanashe Makarawu and women’s 400m record-holder Vimbai Maisvoreva have already sealed their spots at the global showpiece.
But the list could soon grow.
Ashley Miller, Denzel Siamusialela, David Nyamufarira, Takudzwa Chiyangwa and Chengetai Mapaya are now firmly in the conversation after turning heads with strong outings overseas last week, each hovering tantalisingly close to the qualification marks.
With the qualifying window for track and field closing at midnight on 24 August, athletes still have just over a month to punch their tickets to Tokyo.
In the absence of the Olympic Games this year, the World Championships stand as the sport’s most prestigious event.
Miller, one of the country’s top hurdlers, smashed the national 400m hurdles record once again at the Billy J Murphy Track and Field Championships in Memphis, USA.
Her time of 55.09 seconds is just shy of the required 54.65s for World Championship qualification. It was yet another record rewrite that’s forced the National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (Naaz) to update the books.
With more races and tougher competition, Miller could well dip under the standard, potentially becoming the second female athlete on Team Zimbabwe alongside Maisvoreva.
Mapaya also stood out in Memphis, leaping an impressive 17,15m in the triple jump. He fell just 7cm short of the 17,22m standard, but his current world ranking of 11th keeps him firmly in contention.
Sprinter Takudzwa Chiyangwa ran 45,19s in the 400m, just outside the 44,85s mark, while Siamusialela posted 20,20s in the 200m, needing only to shave off 0,04s to qualify. He’s ranked 41st globally.
In the 100m, Nyamufarira clocked a blistering 10,01s, agonisingly close to the 10,00s qualifying time, and currently sits 33rd in the world rankings.
How athletes can qualify for the World Championships
Zimbabwean athletes still chasing qualification can do so through the following channels:
Achieve the entry standard within the qualifying period.
Win their event at designated Area Championships (except the marathon), provided no better-ranked athlete from the same region exists.
Place in the top five at Platinum Label Marathons within the window.
Win any Gold Label Marathon held in 2024.
Target Numbers by Event
100m, 200m, 400m – 48 athletes each
800m, 1500m – 56 athletes
3000m SC – 36
5000m – 42
10,000m – 27
Hurdles (100mH, 110mH, 400mH) – 40 each
Field Events – 36
Combined Events – 24
Marathon – 100
20km & 35km Race Walks – 50 each
Relays – 16 teams
